The Old BMC

A deeper look into the history and heritage of Bandoengsche Melk Centrale, from its colonial-era origins to its founding in 1929.

The Origins of Dairy Farming in Indonesia

Geschiedenis en Traditie van de Glorie van Bandoengsche Melk Centrale in Vervlogen Tijden. (History and Tradition of the Glory of the Bandung Milk Central in Bygone Times.) From the arrival of the first dairy cows in the 17th century to the rise of Bandung as Indonesia’s dairy heartland.

Photographer Joseph Rauscher Source National Archives
1910 - Edward John Tremlett, pemilik Peternakan Sapi Perah Tremlett, sedang memerah susu
1925 - Tilly Timmermans, anak pemilik Peternakan Sapi Perah Veldzicht di Cimahi sedang dalam perjalanan dari Bandung menuju peternakan memakai sepeda motor merek A.J.S.
1928 - Peternakan Sapi Perah Generaal de wet Hoeve di Cisarua
1928 - Sapi Perah di Peternakan Generaal de wet Hoeve di Cisarua
1930 - Peternakan Lembangsche Melkerij Ursone di Lembang
1930 - Mobil untuk mengangkut susu milik Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N.V. di Pangalengan
1930 - Mobil untuk mengangkut babi milik Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N.V. di Pangalengan
1930 - Peternakan sapi perah milik Keluarga dr. P. J. Winter di kawasan Bandung utara 1
1930 - Peternakan sapi perah milik Keluarga dr. P. J. Winter di kawasan Bandung utara 2
1930 - Peternakan sapi perah milik Keluarga dr. P. J. Winter di kawasan Bandung utara 3
1931 - Pemberian pakan sapi perah dilakukan tepat untuk mempertahankan kualitas sapi perah dan produksi susu di Peternakan Generaal de wet Hoeve di Cisarua
1931 - Penimbangan pakan sapi perah dilakukan tepat untuk mempertahankan kualitas sapi perah dan produksi susu di Peternakan Generaal de wet Hoeve Cisarua
1935 - Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N.V. tahun
1935 - Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N.V. di Pangalengan dilihat dari udara
1933 - Gedung BMC tahun
1931 - Van Zijl (paling kiri) bersama beberapa peternak sapi perah lainnya
1947 - Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N.V. yang terbengkalai pada masa perang kemerdekaan
1947 - Sapi-sapi perah Peternakan de Friesche Terp N.V. di Pangalengan
1948 - Tentara Belanda mengevakuasi warga Belanda yang ada di Peternakan Sapi Perah de Friesche Terp N. V.

The story of dairy farming in Indonesia traces back to the arrival of dairy cows in the 17th century, likely brought under the VOC to meet the demand for milk. Under Dutch guidance, dairy cattle farming flourished on VOC-owned estates, extending even to remote areas like Cianjur, where the milk produced gained wide acclaim.

Formal dairy farming in the Dutch East Indies began under the stewardship of Controlleur van Andel, who introduced imported cattle breeds from the Netherlands and Australia — shaping enduring strains like the Grati cattle of Pasuruan. A turning point came in 1914, with a landmark agreement between Louis Hirschland and van Zijl, owners of Generaal de Wet Hoeve Dairy Farm, marking the beginning of genetic improvement through purebred Friesian Holstein bulls.

Despite setbacks in management, indigenous-owned dairy enterprises persisted, navigating strict hygiene regulations to build a thriving local dairy tradition. The fertile Priangan region emerged as the heart of this industry, driven in part by Boer settlers, exemplified by the modernization of Lembangsche Melkerij Ursone by 1931.

Priangan came to showcase two distinct models of dairy farming: privately-owned enterprises and communal ventures. The latter, best represented by GABPSIP — founded by farmers in Pangalengan in 1949 — sustained the livelihoods of local dairy farmers and helped cement Bandung’s place as Indonesia’s dairy heartland.

The Founding of BMC

How a growing dairy industry in Bandung led to the establishment of Bandoengsche Melk Centrale in 1929.

2009 - Bangunan BMC tahun
2006 - Bangunan BMC
1962 - Gedung Pusat Susu Bandung ketika dikelola oleh PT Ternak
1961 - Bagian dari proses pasteurisasi susu di BMC
1961 - Bagian dari mesin pasteurisasi susu di BMC
1950 - Gedung BMC
Peternakan Sapi pejantan perah Otto di tepi Situ Cileunca, Pangalengan
Peternakan Sapi pejantan perah Otto di tepi Situ Cileunca, Pangalengan 2
logo BMC di masa Hindia Belanda
lklan susu BMC tahun 1933 dan logo BMC di masa Hindia Belanda

The rapid growth of milk production from dairy farms around Bandung created a pressing challenge for farmers and milk traders alike: milk spoils quickly, and adequate storage was urgently needed. This need gave rise to the idea of a Milk Processing Center — a “Melk Centrale” — developed through collaboration between dairy farmers and milk traders. After lengthy deliberation, a consensus was reached on the necessity of such a facility to preserve surplus milk effectively.

Bandoengsche Melk Centrale, or BMC, was established in the late 1920s, marking a significant milestone in dairy processing in the region. Strategically located on Kebon Sirihweg No. 58 — now known as Jalan Aceh No. 30 — BMC became a central hub for distributing milk from farms to consumers across Bandung. Completed in 1929, the building featured Art Deco architecture and housed state-of-the-art processing facilities alongside a retail milk shop. The land for BMC was provided by Louis Hirschland and Van Zijl, owners of Generaal de Wet Hoeve Dairy Farm in Cisarua — underscoring their pivotal role in BMC’s founding.

Although the building was completed in 1929, the formal land deed wasn’t finalized until 1932. Operated by Dutch personnel, BMC employed local workers for its processing operations, maintaining strict cleanliness and hygiene standards under the supervision of health authorities. Regular inspections upheld sanitation protocols and product quality — a commitment to excellence that has carried through to BMC today.